Assembling machine and method



Feb. 16, 1937. J. c. GIBBS ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1932 IAZLuJ" ATTORNEY-I Feb. 16, 1937.

J.'C. GIBBS ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed May 17, 1952 3 Sheet-Sheet 2 ma 1M Feb. 16, 1937. J. c. GIBBS ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed May 17, 1932- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR- .70/1/2 6'.

BY L fir z'f J ATTORN EY- Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE ASSEIVIBLING MACHINE AND METHOD Application May 17, 1932, Serial No. 611,827

26 Claims.

The present invention relates to the art of manufacturing closure caps, cans and similar articles, and particularly to an assembling machine and method for assembling the parts of such articles.

Without any intention of limiting the scope of the present application to the closure, to the machine, or to the minor details described, a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating a particular application thereof, will be described in detail. It will be understood, however, that the invention may be applied to the manufacture of certain types of cans, or other articles of similar nature.

In the manufacture of closure caps, cans and the like, tin plate is customarily used and is lacquered while in flat sheets before being made into the desired articles. It is not feasible to draw such coated tin plate into deep cup-shaped blanks without rupturing the lacquered coatin and also the tin coating of the sheet material. If an article such as a ketchup cap is drawn from a single piece of metal, the brilliancy of the lacquer is impaired, the lacquer coating is ruptured and the metal is exposed. When applied to ketchup bottles, the product reacts chemically with the exposed metal and discoloration and corrosion result. The drawing operation is so severe that the drawn blanks have to be inspected and many of them thrown out.

At the present time, probably ninety per cent, or more, of the ketchup caps sold are made in two pieces. Cans are, likewise, made in two pieces to avoid the drawing operations, and the resulting distortion of the articles. An example of a modern ketchup cap may be found in the patent to Robert A. Russell, No. 1,327,967, dated January 13, 1920. In this patent, the top of the button is secured to the body by an interfolded seam at one end thereof, and the ends of the body are secured together by an interfolded longitudinal seam extending along the side thereof.

These two-piece caps lend themselves particularly to attractive decorations, because neither the body part nor the button is disorted materially in the manufacture thereof. It is customary to decorate both the body part and the button prior to the assembly thereof. Ordinarily, the button is made of a contrasting color 50 and has some form of printing thereon, for example, the name of the packer.

The seam extending longitudinally at the side oi the body part is somewhat unsightly and is particularly objectionable in small articles such as closure caps. The interfolded portion of the iii seam has four thicknesses of metal, whereas the rest of the body is of single thickness. For this reason, many packers desire to conceal the seam "n the body by having it always on the side of the bottle, opposite to the label, so thatone looking at the label of the bottle does not see the seam of the cap. This may be done by a proper relation between the thread in the cap and the thread on the button. In addition, packers require that the button, or end, of the cap be positioned in the body so that one looking at the label of the bottle Will be able to read the printed matter on the button without having to turn the bottle around. The advantage of having the button positioned in the cap is sufficient to warrant payment by thepacker of the extra cost for positioning the buttons in .the caps, even where such work has to be done manua-lly.

Many of the packers desire the buttons to be positioned in the caps, but are unwilling to pay e additional cost thereof. It is, therefore, important to provide an inexpensive machine and method, which will position the button with respect to the seam of the body part. It is, likewise, important that the attachment for performing this function be applicable to present machines for assembling the parts of closure caps, with a minimum number of changes in such machines.

The present machine and method are improvements upon the machine and method illustrated in the James Hardiman Patent No. 1,881,533, dated October 11, 1932, and are designed particularly to simplify the machine and to avoid interruptions in operation due to the failure of the parts to function in their proper manner.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive machine and method for assembling the parts of an article in a predetermined relation to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine and method which will accurately position a button for a body part with respect to the seam in the body part.

Another object of the invention is to utilize an indentation in the periphery of the button to position the decoration thereon with respect to the seam of a body part.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple machine and method for rotating the button or end portion into proper position with respect to the seam of the body part. I

Another object'of the invention is to utilize a partial vacuum for holding the button or end portion during its rotation into proper position with respect to a body part. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuously rotating mandrel for inserting a button into a body part.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for accomplishing the foregoing objects, which is readily applicable to existing machines .used inthe" manufacture of such articles.

Another object of the invention is toincrease the speed and certainty of operation in a mechanism adapted to achieve the above objects.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of theiliustrative embodiment about to be described orwill be indicated in the appenddclaims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will'occur to' one skilled in the art upon employment of the in- ;steps in the assembling of :the parts of a closure cap in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is-a perspective view of the finished cap;

Fig 4 isa fragmentaryside elevational view illustrating the button feeding mechanism; 1 Fig 5 is a fragmentary'frontview illustrating the button feeding mechanism; j

Fig. 6 isafragmentary sectional view on line 676 of Fig. l, with theymandrel about to engage a cap, illustrating a preferred embodiment of a mechanism for engaging and rotating the buttons or ends 5 Fig. '7 is a sectional view along the line l--! of Fig. 6; v r

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectionalview of a por- ;;tion'.of Fig. 6;.

- Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectionalview on the line 9-9 of Fig." a;

Fig. 10 is- .a sectional view similar to Fig. 8,

with the buttoninserted into the body part of the cap;

Fig. 11 is a sectional View on the line ll--H of Fig. 10; 1

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line |2--l2 of Fig] 8, illustrating the mechanism for holding the button in proper position; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional View of a preferred chuck for'connecting, the buttons to the body parts.

Referring again to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 2 and 3 thereof, there is shown a two-piece closure cap which the present embodiment of the invention is particularly useful in vmaking. The cap, or article, comprises an end portion I, which is termed herein a button. The

; button has an upstanding'fiange 2 and a recess or indentation 4 in the outer periphery of the flangefor purposes which will be *described hereinafter. 'I'he button is to be assembled witha body part 5 which may be made by bending'a strip of metal intola cylindrical form and joining the ends thereof byan interfolded seam, as sliown at 6. The button is generally decorated,

' either with adesign or with a suitable legend or trade-marinas illustrated in the drawings, and it is desirable-'to have the top of the legend at 2, 70,653 H W V the seam 6 of the body part, so that one reading the legend will observe the sideof the body part which is free from seams, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3. The present invention aims to provide a simple machine and method adapted to turn the button, during the assembling operation, into proper registry with the body part so that the legend on the surface thereof will be positioned'with respect to the seam on the body part.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, a machine is shown for automatically assembling the parts of a. closure cape Atthe center of the machine is a turret 1 having a number of body supporting "I members-8. At the left of the turret is a horn mechanism 9, which receives blanks 3 of material;

folds them into cylindrical body parts, and places them on the supporting members 8 of the turrets" The turret moves, step by step, and delivers the body part to an assembly station at It, where a button I. is assembled in thebody part. I Thereafter, the turret moves the body part, with the, button in it, around to the chuck H, (Fig. 13)

which forms an interfoldedseam l3 between the button and body part. The turret then delivers.

the assembledcap to a take-off station l2, where it is dropped into a chute l4 and delivered toa suitable thread rolling machine If desired, the entire-machine may be driven by a belt l5fad apted to rotate a pulley it on a shaft. H, which is connected to the horn mechanism 9 V and carries a bevel gear l8 adapted to mesh with.

a bevel gear E9, on shaft 20,;to drive the chuck mechanism H through bevel gears 21 and 22.- It V is not believed necessary to describe these mechanisms in detail, since the present invention is more particularly concerned; with a mechanism for turning and inserting thebutton into the body part, and since the machine described generally above is found in the plant of the assignee herein, at Long Island City, New York.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, a

mechanism is shown for feeding the buttons, which are preferably hoppered and delivered to a chute 2 5, with the flange of the button extendingaway from the body part of the .cap. The

chute is substantially vertical and the buttons are fed one atatimeby means of a pair of pins 26,

attached to a rocker arm 21. When the rocker arm 27 is operated to withdraw the upper pin 26,

the button drops down on the lower pin, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. When the rocker arm 2'! is 7 bottom button. While any suitable means may be utilized for operating the rocker arm 21 and the pins 26, they are shown herein connected by means of an arm 28 and link 28 to lever 30, which is pivoted at 3 The lever 30has an extension32 in the path of the body parts, supported by the turret 1, so that, as each body partpasses the member 32, the lever 39 is depressed and the rock er arm 21 is oscillated to release a single button to be assembled with the body. A set screw 34 regulates the upward movement of the lever 30, which is retained in its upper position by a spring 35. V I

I The mechanism for turning" the button into proper registry with the body part, and for assembling the buttonwith the body part, will now assembling station ID. The button l is dropped,.

by means of the feeding mechanism described.-

above, into the position shown in Figs. 6, 8 and 9. The mechanism for engaging and inserting the button into the body part of the cap is shown more particularly in Figs. 6 to 12. Referring more particularly to Fig. 6, there is shown a hollow member or mandrel 33, one end of which terminates adjacent the guideway 25, for feeding the buttons; the other end of which is connected to a source of suction 33, through a packing gland 38. The mandrel 35 is supported at one end in a bearing 39 having a suitable bushing 4t], and at its other end in a bearing 43 having a bushing 42. The mandrel 36 is rotatably mounted in these bearings and also longitudinally movable therein. A

pulley 44, keyed to one end of the mandrel 36,

is adapted to be driven continuously by a. belt 45 and pulley 46 (Fig. 1). The pulley 45 is mounted on shaft 4'1, which is connected through pulleys 48 and 49 and belt directly to the drive for the entire machine. It will be understood that any other suitable means may be utilized for continuously rotating the mandrel 36, but the mechanism described is preferred because it does not require a separate source of power and, in addition, the belt 45 may be regulated so that there is a desired amount of slippage, but such slippage is not necessary to the proper operation of the machine.

Referring again to Fig. 6, there is shown a cam 52 keyed to shaft 20, operatively connected to the drive of the machine through bevel gears l8 and I 9, which operates a bell crank 54, pivoted at 35, having a cam roller 56 at one end, held against a cam 52 by a spring 5?, and attached, at its other end, to the mandrel 36 by means of a bushing 58 and nuts 59. The upper end of the bell crank 54 is forked to extend about the sides of the bushing and to engage the nuts 59 to reciprocate the mandrel 36 for inserting the buttons into the body parts. The bearing 4| has a slot 6| registering with the guideway 25 for the buttons, so that a button may be dropped into the bearing 4i adjacent the end of the mandrel 36. The bearing 4! is keyed against rotation by means of the pin 62, fitting into a slot 64 in the flange of the bearing 4 I, but is adapted to reciprocate, under the influence of a spring 65, when the mandrel 36 is reciprocated for inserting the buttons into the body parts of the caps. The outer end of the bearing 4| has a cylindrical bore 66, leading to a shoulder 61, which is adapted to telescope over the supported body parts when the mandrel 36 is moved forward. The end of the mandrel 36 is preferably provided with a gasket.

69, held in position by a threaded member having a central bore therein connecting with the hollow mandrel 35. A suitable washer 1| may be interposed between the gasket 69 and the end of the mandrel and may be sufficiently large in diameter to abut against the bushing 42'.

When a button I is fed through the slot 6| of the bearing 4! to a point adjacent the end of the mandrel 36, the suction of the bore of the mandrel draws the button against the end of the mandrel and into engagement with the gasket 69. Since the mandrel is rotated continuously by the pulley 44, the button engaged thereby is also rotated continuously. The force tending to rotate the button is controlled entirely by the extent of the vacuum and the friction between the button and the gasket 69.

In order to stop the rotation of the button when it has been turned into proper registry with.

the body part of the cap, there is provided a recess 4 in the periphery of the button, as described above. This recess contacts with a key member 12. a pin 14 extending longitudinally thereof, permitting the key to oscillate from full line position to dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 9. A flat spring extends through the end of the pin, as shown more particularly in Figs. 8, 10 and 12, to maintain the key 12 in the full line position shown in Fig. 11. When the button I is rotated, the recess 4 thereon engages the pin 12 and moves it over from the full line position shown in Fig. 9'

to the dotted line position, where the key engages an abutment which definitely holds the pin '54 against further rotation. From then on, the gasket 69, against which the button is held by vacuum. slips on the button and the button is The key member is mounted upon held in proper registry with the body part of the 7 cap. Immediately when the button is removed,.

Preferably, the suction is cut off from the mandrel when the mandrel is moved forward a predetermined distance, so that the friction between the gasket 69 and the button I will be substantially decreased when it is no longer desired to turn the button.

While the preferred embodiment contemplates the use of the key 12 for causing the button to register properly with respect to the seam of the body part of the cap, the seam in the body part may be utilized in the present mechanism for engaging the recess 4 in the cap to hold it against rotation. Due to the four thicknesses of metal at the seam 6 (Fig. 11), the seam extends slightly radially inwardly from the body part of the cap, thus providing a suitable stop for engaging, the recess 4. Where the seam is utilized to stop the button, it would be desirable to have the friction between the gasket 69 and the button greater than the friction between the button and the body part so that the button would turn until the recess 4 engaged the seam 6 of the body part. This would make it unnecessary to use the key i2, but would make it desirable to assemble the button and the body part with the recess 4 adjacent the seam 6. With the present mechanism, the recess 4 may be positioned at, or any desired distance from, the seam 6.

In the operation of the machine, the strips of metal or blanks 3 (Fig. 1) are fed into the horn 9, either manually or automatically, which bends the strips into cylindrical forms and secures the edges together to form the body Darts. The horn delivers these body parts to, and places them upon, the supports 8 of the turret l. The turret rotates, step by step, 'to position the respective supports 8 and body parts 5 in front of the chute 25 and mandrel 36 (Figs. 6 to 12). The rocker arm 2! and pins 26 are operated by the body part 5, engaging the extension 32 in its movement (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) to drop a button through the slot along the guideway 25, through the slot 6|, into the bearing 4i. The suction through the hollow mandrel 36 draws the released button against the gasket 69 at the end of the mandrel. where it is held. The mandrel is rotated continuously by the pulley 44 and belt 45,-conne'cted to the drive of the machine, which in turn rotates the buttonheld by vacuum on the end of the mandrel. The key 12, held in position by a flat spring I5, engages the recess 4 in the periphery of the button to hold the button against further rotation when it has been turned into properregistry with the body part of the cap Thereafter, the mandrel36 is moved axially by means of the cam 52 on drive shaft 20 and bell crank 54, to insert the button into the body part; The key 'lzcontinu-es to hold the button during its 'longitudinal movement until it is actually delivered-toandinserted into the body part of the can, at which time the friction between the body part of the cap and the button thereof "is sufiicient to retain-it against further rotation. To avoidany cha'nce of thecap being rotated beyond its. proper position after'it is released by the key 12, thevacuum' is cut oil? from the mandrel 36 and atmospheric pressure is admitted thereto when the mandrel reaches apredetermined position, preferablyat about the time that the button'disengages the key 12 and engages the body part of the cap. A suitable aperture 33 (Fig. 6) maybe utilized for releasing the vacuum within the mandrel. This aperture will be automatically uncovered when the mandrel is moved a, predetermined distance inwardly. When the mandrel 36 is moved inwardly to insert the'button into thecap. the'bear'ing ti is .drel 36. After the button has'been inserted'into the body part. the mandrel is withdrawn, by means of the cam 52, bell crank 54 andspring 51, and the atmospheric inlet 33 will be automatically covered and suction applied to the in terior of the mandrel.

7 Referring again to Figs. 1 and l3,the assembled button and body part are moved around to the chuck i i, which engages the upper end of the body part Sand folds it over the flange 2 of the button. Preferably, the chuck H moves axially with respect to the body part. so that the upper end of the body part is pressed radially inwardly and downwardly to interlock with the flange 2. The completed cap is then discharged by means of a pin 88 engaging the button thereof,

and dropped intothe chute M, where it may be delivered to a threading machine, or other mechanism, for applying. a rolled wire edge at its bottom and suitable screw threads in the a body part for engaging a container.

It will be seen that the. present invention provides a very simple method and machine for turning buttons into proper registry with the "body-parts of closure caps or similar articles.

The turning mechanism may be readily attached to existing machines,thereby eliminating the necessity of discarding present equipment; The mechanism is made from a minimumnumber of parts and these parts are not likelv to'becorne disarranged or to give any material trouble to the operator. The buttons maybe made to reg- "ister with the body parts without any additional laborin the manufacture of the caps and, hence,

packers may be supplied with a better product without increase in'the manufacturing cost.

As various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages. it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. While the preferred embodiment is described with specific reference to closure caps, it will be understood that the invention is applicable to the manufacture of various artitageous. I V

Having thus described myinvention, I claim:.

continuously, holding said button against'rotation when turned into proper position, and interlocking. said button and said body part;

'cles, where registering of the parts is vadvan- ,1. The method of assembling decorated but-f, tonswith body parts, which method comprises 7 applying a force tending to rotate the button 2. The method of assembling buttons With' seamed body parts, which method comprises applyinga force tending to rotate a button having a recess in the periphery thereof continuously,

utilizing said recess to stop the rotation of the button when in proper'position and inserting the button into a body part.

3. The method of assembling buttons with body parts in a. definite relation to each other, which method comprises applying rotative force continuously to a button, inserting the button into abody part andstopping the rotation of the 7 button when in proper position with respectto the body part. 1

4. The method of assembling buttons having a decoration thereon, with seamed body parts, which method comprises supporting a body part, applying a 'rotative force continuously to the button .through the intermediation of a'partial vacuum, stopping the rotation of the button when in proper position with respect to the body part,- and interlocking the button and the body part.

5. The method of assembling buttons with seamed body parts to provide closure caps, which method comprises forming a projection on the button, holding the button by a partial vacuum, applying a rotative force continuously to the button and utilizing said projection to stop the button when in proper position with respect to a body rotative force. a 6. The method of assembling buttons with seamed body parts, which method comprises forming a projection on the button, applying a rotative forcfl Continuously to said button, utilizing said projection to stop the button in proper; registry with the body'part, and interlocking saidj button and body part. i

'7. The method of turning a button to position the'button' with respect to a seamed body part,

which method comprises forminga projection on i the button, inserting the button into the body part, applying a force tending to'rotate the button continuously, and engaging the projection to stop the button and to hold it in with the seamed body part, l r I 8. The method of turning a button to position the button with respect to a seamed body part, whichm'ethod comprisesforming a projection on the button, applying a force tending to rotate the 'part in opposition to said partial vacuum and said proper registry 7 button continuously, holding the button in position by a vacuum, and engaging the projection to stop the button when the projection is'inproper registry with the seam of the body part.

9. The method of turning a button into proper registry with a seamed body part, which method comprises applying a force tending to rotate a button continuously, and utilizing the seam of the.

body part to stop the button in proper registry with the body part.

10. The method of assembling a button and a seamed body part, which method comprises providing a button with a recess in the periphery thereof, inserting the button while applying a force tending to rotate the button, and utilizing the seam of the body part to engage the recess in the button to stop the button in proper registry with the body part.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a member for fitting into and supporting a tubular body part, rotating means for holding a button by vacuum and for rotating said button, means for stopping the rotation of said button when in proper registry with the body part without stopping the rotation of said first means, and means for permanently securing said button to the body part.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support for a body part, means for rotating a button, means for stopping the rotation of said button without stopping the rotation of said first means, and means for reciprocating said rotating means axially thereof to insert the button into the body part.

13. In a device of the class described, means for holding a body part, a mandrel for supporting a button and for inserting the button into the body part, said button being retained on said mandrel by vacuum, means for rotating said mandrel with the button thereon, and means adjacent to the outer periphery of the button for stopping the rotation of said button without stopping the rotation of said mandrel.

14. In a device of the class described, means for holding a body part, a mandrel for supporting a button, vacuum means for retaining said button on said mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel about its longitudinal axis to position said button with respect to the body part, and means for seaming said body part to said button.

15. In a device of the class described, means for holding a body part of a cap, a mandrel for supporting a button of a cap, said button being retained on said mandrel by vacuum, means for continuously rotating said mandrel to rotate the button about its center, and means adjacent the outer periphery of the button for stopping the rotation of said button without stopping the rotation of said mandrel.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support for body parts of a tubular article, a guideway for buttons, a hollow member terminating adjacent said guideway, means for creating suction within said hollow member to engage one of the buttons and to hold it thereon, means for moving said hollow member longitudinally to insert the button held thereon into the body part and means for rotating said hollow member about its longitudinal axis to turn the button into proper registry with the body part of an article.

1'7. In a device of the class described, thecombination of a support for body parts of a cap,.

a guideway for buttons, a member terminating adjacent said guideway, means for creating suction within said member to hold the button thereon, means for rotating said member, said button having a projection thereon, and means for engaging the projection to stop the rotation of the button when turned into proper registry with the body part of a cap.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support for a body part, a hollow member for inserting a button into the body part, means for creating a suction within said hollow member to hold the button thereon, means for rotating said hollow member about its longitudinal axis to turn said buttoruand a pivotally mounted member for engaging said button when turned into proper registry with 'a body part to hold said button against further rotation.

19. In a device of the class described, a support for a body part, a guideway for buttons, a member adapted to engage and hold a button delivered through said guideway, means for rotating said member continuously, said button having a projection therein, means for engaging said projection to stop the rotation of said button without stopping the rotation of said member, and means for reciprocating said member to insert the button into the cap without stopping the rotation of the member.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination of a turret adapted to receive body parts and position them at an assembly station, a mandrel for engaging and holding a button in alignment with the body part, means for rotating said mandrel continuously to turn the button into proper registry with the body part, means for engaging the button to hold it against rotation when in proper registry, and means for reciprocating the mandrel to insert the button into the body part. I

21. In a device of the class described, the combination of a turret adapted to receive body parts and position them at an assembly station, a mandrel for engaging and holding a button in alignment with the body part, means for rotating said mandrel continuously to turn the button into proper registry with the body part, means for engaging the button to hold it against rotation when in proper registry, means for reciprocating the mandrel to insert the button into the body part, and means for connecting said button and body part by an interfolded seam.

22. The method of assembling decorated cover parts with body parts, which method comprises applying a force tending to rotate the cover part continuously about its center, holding the cover part against rotation when turned into proper position with respect to said body part, and securing said cover part to said body part.

23. The method of assembling articles comprising a decorated cover part and a substantially tubular body part, which method comprises form ing a projection on the cover part, applying a rotative force continuously to said cover, tending to rotate the button continuously, utilizing said projection to stop the cover part when in proper registry with the body part, and interlocking said cover part and body part.

24. In a device of the class described, the c0mbination of a support for body parts of a cap, a chute for buttons, a hollow member terminating adjacent to the lowermost button in said chute, means for creating suction within said hollow member to hold a button thereon, means for moving said hollow member forward to insert the button into a body part of a cap, means for rotating said hollow member to properly position the button with respect to the body part, and means for securing the button to the body part.

25. The method of assembling a button having atop portion with a. seamed body part to provide a two-piece closure cap, which method comprises, engaging the top portion of a-button, inserting a button into a seamed body part, applying a force tending to rotate the button continuously and stopping the rotation of the button 6 V i V 2,070,668

body part of a cap, continuously rotating means adjacent 'to' said support for inserting a button into the body part and for rotating the button while in the body part, and means associated with the button for stopping the rotation of the but-' ton when the button is in proper registry with the body part, without stopping the rotation of said rotating means.

' 'JOHN C. GIBBS. 

